Adventures
Snowmass
Glenwood Springs

Teen adventures in aspen

Teens! If you take on their energy, your trip to our valley will include hella experiences you never would have done without them. Let's go!

Activities for Teens in Aspen & The Roaring Fork Valley

Having three teen boys of our own, we know that it is difficult to get to the core of finding activities for teens in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley that they won’t yawn at, or if you are needing a guide to take them on adventures, it’s difficult to know who to go to. We have made it easier for you to choose by eliminating the guesswork. Below are some of our top ideas.

Mountain Biking in Aspen

Sky Mountain Park offers very fun mountain biking terrain for both parents and teens, with rolling trails, beautiful views, and enough variety to keep everyone entertained. Visit the MTB Project website for all the important information and trail details before heading out.

Downhill Mountain Biking in Snowmass

Rent or demo a bike and head up the gondola to the Snowmass Bike Park, which offers something for every level of downhill mountain bike rider.

Get them padded up and send them on their way to nearly 3,000 vertical feet of purpose-built downhill trails. We suggest getting broken in on the greens and blues like Viking and French Press before hitting Valhalla and Vapor. It’s so much fun that your kids will want to stay there all day.

Snowmass Bike Park Lift Tickets

  • 1-Day Lift Ticket: $45 In-Resort | $36 Advance Purchase
  • 3-Day Lift Ticket: $119 In-Resort | $95 Advance Purchase
  • Season passes also available

Guided Hikes or Mountain Bike Rides

Go on your own or hire a guide from Aspen Center for Environmental Studies or Aspen Alpine Guides and take a hike or bike ride deep into the mountains with professionals who know the terrain, history, and ecology of the valley.

North Star Preserve River Float

Take a gentle float through important wildlife habitat in North Star Nature Preserve with RFC and Pitkin County Open Space & Trails. Guides provide the history of North Star, discuss wildlife highlights, and explain recent restoration activities during this mild two-hour float.

Or, book a stand-up paddleboarding lesson with local SUP and kayaking legend Charlie MacArthur of the Aspen Kayak & SUP Academy.

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding

If your teens are adventurous, peaceful, and respectful of wildlife, rent them a stand-up paddleboard from Aspen Bikes or Shaboomee.

Be forewarned: there have been moose and bear sightings in the preserve, so leave your dog at home and keep your distance from wildlife.

Aspen Historical Society Tours

Aspen Historical Society offers fantastic free history tours throughout the summer that are surprisingly fun for teens and adults alike.

Tours include:

  • Exploring Aspen’s underground tunnels and former mines
  • Riding through downtown Aspen in a unique electric vehicle
  • Architecture-focused tours of the West End
  • Historic saloon and ghost tours
  • Visits to Ashcroft and Independence ghost towns

The guided historic haunt tours, complete with local lore and legendary stories, are especially memorable.

Tennis in Aspen

Book a court or take a lesson at the Aspen Tennis Club clay courts.

Backpacking & Peak Bagging

Aspen Expeditions Worldwide

Since 1977, the mountain guides at Aspen Expeditions Worldwide have been recognized as some of the most trained, experienced, and credentialed guides in the country.

Whether your teen wants to backpack into the wilderness, climb a peak, rock climb, or simply challenge themselves in the outdoors, Aspen Expeditions offers incredible guided adventures and instruction.

Tandem Flights with Aspen Paragliding

Aspen Paragliding is the premier paragliding school in the country and a full-service dealer of paragliders and equipment.

Their tandem flights are an unforgettable way to experience Aspen from above and are guaranteed to impress even the most difficult-to-entertain teen.

Read more:
Going Airborne with Aspen Paragliding

Hiking in Aspen

Hike to alpine lakes, jump into freezing mountain water, and explore some of the most beautiful trails in Colorado.

Before heading out, always check trail conditions and recent reviews on AllTrails, especially after heavy winters when avalanche debris and unstable trail conditions can linger well into summer.

Summer Activities at Snowmass

One of the best things about summer in Snowmass is that the mountain transforms into a giant outdoor playground.

Activities include:

  • Alpine coaster
  • Zipline
  • Climbing wall
  • Ropes course
  • Disc golf
  • Scenic gondola rides
  • Hiking trails
  • Outdoor concerts
  • Mountain biking

It’s the kind of place where teens can burn energy all day long and actually sleep at night.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs

After all the adventures, drive down to Iron Mountain Hot Springs for a soak.

Located alongside the Colorado River and surrounded by mountain views, the geothermal soaking pools are perfect for relaxing sore muscles after hiking, biking, or rafting.

Read more:
Iron Mountain Hot Springs Experience

The Artificial Wave in Glenwood Springs

With the right river flows, the Glenwood Wave becomes a world-class surf wave where kayakers and river surfers show off impressive skills.

Teens love hanging out to watch the action — or trying it themselves if they’re experienced on the water.

Free Summer Concerts

Aspen Music Festival Concerts

Bring a picnic and sit on the lawn outside the Benedict Music Tent for free Sunday evening orchestra concerts hosted by the Aspen Music Festival and School.

Snowmass Thursday Night Concerts

Each Thursday evening, head to Fanny Hill for free concerts featuring incredible artists, sunset views, and a lively family atmosphere.

Aspen Mountain Yoga

For the ultimate Aspen summer experience, hike up Aspen Mountain via the Ute Trail and reward yourself with an outdoor yoga class overlooking the Elk Mountains at 11,212 feet.

Aspen Shakti offers classes throughout the summer for both beginners and advanced practitioners.

And honestly? Some of the best teen memories come from the simpler moments; grabbing smoothies after a hike, wandering around town with friends, swimming in alpine lakes, vintage shopping, late-night ice cream runs, or sitting around a firepit under the stars after a full day outside.

Aspen has a way of pulling teens away from their phones and back into real life, which may be the greatest gift of all.

Although our recommendations come from experience or reviews reported to us from people we trust, we at Aspen Real Life are not liable for experiences gone wrong. Feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

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Testimonials

Corneliu Fagaraşan
Architect

Aspen Business Connect completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I showed up I felt welcomed into a community of open, curious, and genuinely supportive people. It’s not just networking—it’s real connection. I’ve built friendships, found opportunities, and gained invaluable insight simply by being part of the group. The environment Jillian has created makes it easy to show up, be yourself, and grow both personally and professionally.

Hudson McNamee Osprey Design Studio
Owner

I came along and was immediately connected with a lot of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. A year and a half later I have gained a plethora of connections and advice from people from all walks of the entrepreneurial journey. This valley works by word of mouth. That is the most effective way, and being a part of this has gained me the most high quality clientele that respect what I do, compensate me fairly and I don't have to go through the entire vetting process every time. I learned so much from so many different types of people. It's been invaluable to my growth as an entrepreneur and a small business owner.

Grayson Rutherford Sinclair Building Architecture Design
Director of Operations

I've been blown away by the professional connections that I've been able to make since joining Aspen Business Connect. I've even had the opportunity to make trade relationships... [and] brought multiple artists onto my company's projects that I wouldn't have otherwise found had I not been a member of ABC.

It's unmatched and unrivaled by anything else in the valley and such a special meeting and connecting place for professionals of all different backgrounds. Jillian does an incredible job making her network ours and she's the most well-connected woman in the valley, always bringing in new people from different places who have different experiences and backgrounds to share. Overall it's one of my favorite things to be part of in the valley, from our socializing events and specialized dinners to our more professional focused events , it's given me the opportunity to make great friends in the valley and even professional relationships. All of us are better off for it.

Jeremy Joseph
Jeremy Joseph Photography

I opened a gallery called Jeremy Joseph Photography, which was a place to display my fine art prints of the Colorado Wilderness and Wildlife. Shortly after opening that space, I started to realize the need for me to be more  integrated into the local community. After a short meeting with Jillian, I realized really quickly how valuable her network could be to get more integrated into the community. The amount of people and relationship building you can do is pretty impressive. Every time that I show up  I always have a bit of a vibrationally tingly inspiration because of everyone's stories and what they're doing. Just a great place to be a part of the community and get inspired for your small business.

Derron Cloud, State Farm Agent in Basalt and Aspen.
Agent

What I have enjoyed from Jillian's group, Aspen Business Connect, is I've met lots of different people, different individuals. There's great events. I have probably not only gained clients but I’ve also been able to provide clients to those other folks that I've met. I've also made friends. Several people that I met in the first meeting that I went to, I've played golf with and our families hang out together. I have also had many, many referrals from those people. This group has been fantastic for networking and learning and just meeting lots of great and wonderful, interesting people.

Dominic Del Signore Homestead Circus Productions
Founder

Being a member hasn't just grown my business; it has fundamentally changed my life in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Jillian is a master at the art of connection, and her dedication to this community is nothing short of brilliant. She understands that when you connect local businesses as genuine resources for one another, you aren't just facilitating 'transactions', you are proliferating a culture of friendship, growth, and playful engagement that makes our community thrive... Great organizations only succeed with great leaders, and Jillian’s mission to foster an environment where we all succeed together is incredibly effective.

Marisa de Lempicka Tamara de Lempicka Estate Foundation
Owner

I've been a member with Aspen Business Connect for about five years now and it's been wonderful. Jillian does an amazing job at connecting people. I always leave the events inspired, empowered, with new ideas. It's really really been a great addition to my life here in Aspen, and it's a great reason to hear what other people are doing in the community, to feel part of this amazing community. The people in this group are amazing. I've /made some really lifelong friendships.

Shari Havroud of Aetio Health
Nutritionist
I am so grateful for Jillian and Aspen Business Connect, for introducing my work to the team at Aspen Strong where we created a successful Food/Mood kids series.  From there, I have been given the opportunity to work with the Aspen Youth Center, Aspen Family Connections and the City of Aspen!” 
All of these engagements have helped me expand awareness about the benefits of medical nutrition therapy.  Just one introduction led to many more.  I would highly recommend joining the Aspen Business Connect network!"
Diane Utz, ESQ Ferguson Shindler Law Firm
Construction Litigation

Thank you once again! You’ve created something really special and have done an amazing job pulling together the movers and shakers in this Valley. I’ve lived all over the country but have never witnessed a network like the one you’ve built and are continuing to build. You are such an inspiration!

Eric Amyot Keystone Species CO
Instigator of Change | Generative Community Builder

ABC makes networking easy. More than that, the intention and energy, mood, and support for every entrepreneur and business regardless of their scale or industry, is always positive.

Harry Teague - Harry Teague Architects
Owner

Thank you Aspen Real Life and your team. Very informative and well organized panel discussion. Wonderful to network with such smart, fun crowd. Keep up the good work.

Jerome Osentowski Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
Founder & Director

Last week Jerome, Eden, and Brook melted our minds with their wisdom on the state of our food systems, what they're doing about it, and what we can all do to improve the health of ourselves and the Earth. Thanks Aspen Business Connect for organizing this great event!

Thanks so much Jillian for putting these together. We were glad to see so many people who care about their food, we got so many business cards! Amazing

Rose LeVan Sustainable Settings
Co-Founder & Office Manager

Thank you Jillian for giving us the opportunity to talk with our community via Aspen Business Connect! Your crew is amazing.

Michele Cardamone - Michele Cardamone Photography
Owner

I just went to Jillian's Aspen Business Connect meeting at Aspen Kitchen with a panel discussing the importance of eating local and nutritious food without pesticides. There was so much positive energy in the room and such an eclectic mix of local business representatives. It was such a perfect way to connect with members of our community. Bravo, Jillian! I can't wait for more!

Molly Dodge Bosque Aspen

Such an amazing event, Jillian!! Thank you for including us and for everything that you're doing for this community and beyond. You're an inspiration and connecting people is the most satisfying thing. Xoxox

Bill Infante, Hangai Mountain Textiles, Co-Founder & President at Breakthrough Communications, Basalt Town Council Member.
Principal & Co-Founder

Great evening. Great initiative. Great connections. Thanks Jillian Livingston for bringing the business community together!

Marisa Hallsted The Mindful Vine
Founder

We thought you’d love that we all connected over a fabulous dinner. Turned into a blog post, a mastermind group, a newly designed ring from gems from my ancestors and who knows great collaborations between some of us in the future! Thanks for being our connector and for all you do!!